Which first big bike on a budget?

Dave_80 · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 12 Nov 2016 Karma :

I've been learning on a aprilia shiver 750,easy enough bike to handle even for a divvy like me.bit different from others suggested but a nice bike with good comfort,can't recommend anything else as not ridden anything else but something other to consider?

wr6133 · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Dec 2013 Karma :

Andy_Pagin · World Chat Champion Joined: 08 Nov 2010 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

andyscooter · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 May 2009 Karma :

Jimmydoodaa · Derestricted Danger Joined: 16 Nov 2016 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

FZS600 / FZ6 / Hornet will be more exciting and fun when you're in the mood for it.

ER6 will be more restful when you just want to get home after a long week.

Neither is better, either will destroy 98% of other vehicles on the road should you be so inclined.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

Jimmydoodaa · Derestricted Danger Joined: 16 Nov 2016 Karma :

Thanks for the advice everyone. I feel better informed, now just need to try some out. Ta.

Ribenapigeon · Super Spammer Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Karma :

My XJ6 I still enjoy after three years and is my first big bike. Wish id got the faired version though. Easily in the 3.5k budget for a three or four year old one. Better than an ER6 maybe on a par with a Hornet but a tad cheaper.

Paris2 · Nearly there... Joined: 10 Apr 2011 Karma :

Fireblade
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Current Ride: Daytona 600

secretagentmo... · Scooby Slapper Joined: 25 Aug 2016 Karma :

You can spend only a few quid and get a great bike.

Got my NTV 650 from Leigh (London) on Sea, bloke had refurbished it with a view to getting back on two wheels, found out it weighed a bit more than he thought he could handle and he sold it to us for £450 with new tyres on! £29 and half an hour at Lester's saw us with an MOT and me with 110 miles to ride home!

So £480 for a 650 V twin with a sub 6 second 0-60 time, nice steady handling, shaft drive, and capable of hauling 2up at 115mph (not that I have ever done that you understand, like I would not be able to tell you how annoying it is when the wife is battering the top of your crash helmet at 115mph with her fist). Great all year round commuter and more than capable of some fun in the twisties. Also enough left over from £500 to fill the damned tank up when we picked it up too!

Bozzy · Traffic Copper Joined: 20 Dec 2015 Karma :

kgm · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :

I accidentally posted this in another thread...

Engine capacity isn't necessarily a good measure of how difficult a bike is to handle. Some larger bikes are really forgiving to ride where as some smaller ones have characteristics which make them a challenge, so it comes down to the individual bike I reckon.

With regard to the ER6. I don't find it boring, it's pretty nimble and I don't have much trouble keeping up with VFR800s, etc. It makes a great commuter as it is quite torquey and dead easy to blat about town on. I prefer the ER6 to the SV650, it's more comfortable and I find the engine has more character. The biggest downside is the budget suspension. At higher speeds the front crashes over bumps and the rear wallows when on an undulating or lumpy road which sometimes makes me slow down more than I might on something better suspended. This is only really an issue when really pressing on though, or when carrying a pillion. For 90% of my use of it it's fine.

It has also been pretty reliable over the last 3 years and approx 20k. I did replace the chain and sprockets as the chain developed a stiff link, the brake calipers benefit from regular cleaning and the rear sprocket carrier bearing failed as it wasn't the sealed type and salty water ruined it. I replaced it with a sealed one. Aside from that I've not had any issues at all and have only replaced normal consumables.

As a commuter used for occasional blasts it's a decent bike IMO. The only reason I want to upgrade is because I don't like carrying a pillion on it and I'd like more stability at high speed (could be fixed with new shock and fork emulators but I'd like something with more space for the pillion anyway). I wouldn't recommend it for anyone tall though. Too cramped.

All that said I think the Hornet/Fazer would probably be a more enjoyable toy. ER6 probably a bit more practical in town. Bandit I've never really been keen on. Personally for fun solo bike I think I;d be looking at the MT series, a duke 690 or something along those lines. Maybe a Tuono, I did enjoy that. Not the best commuters though IMO but I don't travel far so doesn't matter for me too greatly.